“This crisis is taking lives — it’s destroying families and shattering communities all across the country,” President Obama said in remarks at a community forum meant to kick off his administration’s new push to curb opioid abuse.

The Task Force found that taking aspirin can help 50- to 69-year-olds who are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease prevent heart attacks and stroke, as well as help prevent colorectal cancer, if taken for at least 10 years.

At customer panels at Cardinal Health’s Retail Business Conference, nine different independent pharmacy owners detailed some of the tactics they are using to keep their customers, attract new shoppers and make their businesses more than just a neighborhood pharmacy.

CVS Health was among the recipients of this year’s Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest honor the department gives to employers for support of National Guard and Reserve employees.

As we raced to close this issue of Drug Store News, it sure had been a busy week for telehealth news, and by that measure, no headline was bigger than the news that Walgreens had decided to expand its partnership with Web-MD into three more states — Illinois, Washington and Colorado.

Nominations are now being accepted for the American Pharmacists Association annual awards and honors program. The awards will be presented at the APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Baltimore from March 4 to 7, 2016.

Bartell Drugs isn’t just celebrating its 125th anniversary. The regional player is also celebrating the deployment of its own private-label brand, which is designed to highlight the retailer’s connection to the Puget Sound region, The Seattle Times has reported.

SPECIAL REPORTS

It’s done. A hearing aid category specific to the over-the-counter arena was signed into law in August; all that remains to be created is the regulatory framework. Read more in this special report. Read more...

IN THIS ISSUE

Drug Store News shares exclusive highlights from the CVS Health Leadership Summit about the company’s efforts to speed up healthcare innovation; highlights the sleep and homeopathy categories’ continued growth; showcases the growing role of pharmacy technology; and more! Read more...